In recent times, Korean Air has been investing in its passenger experience. The airline has done this both in anticipation of its merger with Asiana (where it wants to create a harmonized experience), and also because Korean Air has kind of been second rate compared to some of its rivals in Asia.
Continue reading: Korean Air Unveils New First Class Lounge Incheon, And It’s… Very Private
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
IIRC, having watched some YouTube videos on Korean culture, a lot of higher end restaurants in Korea often offer private suites for celebrations so in this case, this makes sense to me to cater to their Korean customers especially as they’ve undergone a massive merger.
Korean Air’s First Class Lounge at Incheon Airport has officially begun operations today. Alongside it, the newly opened West Prestige Lounge (Business Class Lounge) also started welcoming passengers.
The second-to-last photo below (the space with multiple dining tables) is NOT from the First Class Lounge, but from the newly opened West Prestige Lounge. I would appreciate it if this could be corrected.
This! Koreans, especially the super rich people, hate interacting with strangers or someone not in their league, and it also includes the staffs. They should be "invisible" but working for them unnoticed.
The rich Koreans want to be totally isolated from the outer world, and this lounge design is well catered to them.
South Korea is too small for a private jet business, so a commercial airline like Korean Air substitutes it.
This is the way to create a private lounge suite. I couldn't find it but Ben wrote a couple of weeks ago about a private suite he visited which poorly designed, this looks like one that you would enjoy being in.
To be perfectly frank if your comment is true than they sound like horrible people.
What @S_Lee is so spot on. I remembered when I would say thank you to the staff, a Korean acquaintance told me why would you do that. She said that you are the customer and you need to show you are better than them. I was taken aback by that comment. Also, you can look up videos about how the rich Koreans treat the staff members. There were videos where the customers would criticize and scold the staff members for the most trivial things including making the staff members get down on both knees and apologize and beg for forgiveness for ‘lack of respecting’ the super rich don’t you know who I am customers. Management does nothing about it because they want the money. These people continue to be welcomed at the shops. This is why the Korean Air ‘nut rage’ incident was nothing that surprising to see. Business as usual for them.
What kind of wow factor are you looking for? Do you want useless water fountains and 20 ft ceilings like QR's Al Safwa lounge?
This looks very private and exclusive, similar to how Private Suite is, and that gets tons of praise. Not sure why every time it comes to airlines like Korean Air, it's always backhanded compliments.
Half of the lounge experience also comes from the soft product like food and service, which should also be greatly improved.
@Stanley C
I grew up in Korea and your Korean acquaintance does not represent wealthy people at all lmao. People still say thank you even if they are wildly wealthy
Probably for the Gapjil culture of the affulent in South Korea and to appease to that specific crowd that most liekly flies first.
Regarding the differences in the concepts we're seeing here, I will say a lot of it is due to how wealth is 'experienced' in South Korea. In the US, wildly wealthy people often maintain spaces that allow them to enjoy peace and quiet across a large area (people maintaining homes and ranches in Jackson, WY, Ketchum, ID, etc) but in Korea wealth is heavily concentrated in Seoul and it is uncommon to see people maintain homes in other areas of Korea, as real estate prices are not 'guaranteed' to go up. In Korea, real estate is disproportionately large when it comes to people's net worth and the price of real estate in Seoul vs the rest of the country is massive.
When the only place you spend time in and call home is Seoul, the peace and quiet frequently ends the second you leave your front door (or apartment complex). This makes people flock to small exclusive spaces for peace and quiet. For example, luxury department stores will maintain separate lounges for their best customers, and many restaurants will have separate rooms you can book separately. This lounge looks like an extension of that mindset.
"Do you want useless water fountains and 20 ft ceilings like QR's Al Safwa lounge?"
Lucky made it known when that lounge was reviewed that both of those features were very impressive to him. That's what he likes, so yeah he would want that. You might not want that so good news for you if you visit this lounge
Lounges need ample seating with arm rests, headrests and ottomans so that people can actually lounge! This is the most important aspect of a lounge--comfortable, relaxing seating--and I'm just amazed how many lounges design seating solely with an eye toward aesthetics.
@betterbunb Not saying it is happening all the time but regarding how they treat employees poorly do happen.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/19/asia/korea-air-nut-rage-settlement-intl/
Are all First Class passengers guaranteed a private suite in the lounge or are those only offered on a first come first served basis?
I think I was at the west prestige lounge last week. Is this the one by gate 12# where there is a Korean garden in the middle of the atrium? I didn’t know it was brand new but was very impressed with it. I even told my friends KE has crappy lounges and I had never seen it as nice as it is. The food offerings was good and they even have all you can eat gelato.
I was at their new business lounge recently. It’s really nice. Good decor and food options. The security lines at ICN are another story though…. Would actively avoid it
Wow. I'm a huge fan of Korean Air. Have only experienced their Business Class on 747, but would love to see this some day. Wonder how lounges will evolve once the merged Korean-Asiana is complete.
@Dublin - before we talk about whether are Korean people horrible or not, we should probably start with acknowledging that you should've said 'then' instead of 'than'.
You were so concerned how Oman is acting racist against Philippine based on sharia law, yet proceeds to write an actual racist comment like this?
Typical liberal hypocrisy.
I can't even imagine what being a tolerant liberal like you would feel.
But I'm off for better I guess.
These are such surface level takes. It's on the level of saying don't go to America, the UK, or France because you're going to be stabbed in the streets.
I guess the difference is that in Western countries it happens so often it doesn't even make the news. Just go to any fast food restaurant at rush hour.
Nut rage lady was sentenced to prison and lost her position in the company. It's the outlier not the rule.